Proximity interface development system having analyzer and method

Abstract

A development system and method are provided for testing proximity sensor interfaces, such as a capacitive switch assembly which may be employed in an automotive vehicle. The system includes software routines stored in memory for operating a proximity sensor interface having a plurality of sensors, and a data log including user outputs of the proximity sensors. The development system includes a replicator for replicating the proximity sensor interface based on the software routines and the data log and generating outputs of the proximity sensor interface to determine performance. The system further includes an analyzer for processing the test data for proper activation of the proximity sensor interface and generating an output indicative of the test results.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A proximity interface development system comprising:
 software routines developed to operate a proximity sensor interface having a plurality of proximity sensors;   test data acquired from testing the software routines; and   an analyzer for processing the test data to determine performance of the proximity sensor interface and generating an output indicative of test results.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the analyzer determines whether an intended activation of one or more of the sensors was detected. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the analyzer further determines unwanted activations of one or more of the sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a replicator for replicating the software routine based on a data log and determining expected outputs of the proximity sensor interface. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising an input for receiving one or more settings to adjust one or more parameters of the proximity sensor interface, wherein the replicator processes the settings in combination with the software routines and data log to generate the output. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a computer that is separate from the proximity sensor interface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the computer comprises memory storing the software routines. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor interface comprises a proximity switch. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the capacitive switch comprises a proximity sensor, wherein a signal associated with an activation field is processed to determine activation of the proximity sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor interface is developed for use on a vehicle by a passenger in the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . A method of developing a proximity sensor interface, comprising:
 providing software routines developed to operate a proximity sensor interface having a plurality of sensors;   testing the software routines to generate test data;   processing the test data to determine performance of the software routines; and   generating an output indicative of the test results.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of processing comprises analyzing whether an intended activation of one or more of the proximity sensors was detected. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of processing comprises analyzing to determine unwanted activations of one or more of the proximity sensors. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of replicating the software routines based on a data log and determining expected outputs of the proximity sensor interface to generate the test data. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of receiving one or more settings to adjust one or more parameters of the proximity sensor interface, and processing the one or more settings in combination with the software routines and data log to generate the output. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of analyzing is performed by a computer that is separate from the proximity sensor interface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the computer comprises memory storing the software routines. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the proximity sensor interface comprises a proximity switch. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the proximity switch comprises a proximity sensor, wherein a signal associated with an activation field is processed to determine activation of the proximity sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the proximity sensor interface is developed for use on a vehicle by a passenger in the vehicle.